MORE WORK?'OR MORE UNEMPLOYED?

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 229, 20 June 1908, Page 6

MORE WORK?'OR MORE UNEMPLOYED?

Sir,—lt appears lo me, after reading over Dr. Findlay's speech, reviewing tho relation of Labour to its reward, that, lie has omitted a very largo part of tho most imnortant consideration, from a worker's point of view. We recognise that anyone who sets out to prove a given proposition must adduce, not some of the evidonee, but all—not a partial or limited statement from ouo point of view, but an impartial statement from all points of view. And I submit Dr. Findlay has not done so. It is true that under certain conditions his scheme would temporarily succeed ; if, for instance, the demand for labour was buoyant, or, in other words, trade was brisk; but reverse these conditions, and the result would be the creation of a gfeater percentage of unemployed. lf, v however, ha can guarantee as a result of increased production that increased consumption would follow, there would bo some hope. -As wo have no such guarantee, wo must eonchido that even under normal conditions it would mean increased unemployment. While tho Arbitration Court might adjudicate in securing to. tho worker tho increased wages resulting from his greater exertion, it cannot givo unemployed men work. No attompt was made to show that his scheme would result in opening up new avenues of employment, and without these it would result in greater competition for the, available employment. . I am as desirous as anyone to see bettor, results obtaining amongst our workers, and every encouragouiont givon to do' better work, but until it has been proven that these would not adversely affect the workers in the aggregate; I am not inclined to accept what oven a responsible Minister' say 3 on the matter. This is' va question l that Labour has. to-solve for itself. ; The mero creation" of more wealth by them, and in return an oquivalent .that must mean the sacrifice of their fellows, is hardly the morality that will appeal to tho' more: intelligent worker, and until some higher ideal is presented I am afraid 'all the special pleading, even of a lawyer, will r.ot avail.—l am, etc.,' , . .F. Mc.D.G.